What kind of aquarium/tank fish is this?

Whenever I go to my dentist office, or other places that have tanks, I see this small fish about 3-4 inches. They are grey with a little black and they look like miniture nurse sharks.
They aren’t Bala Sharks or Iridescent Sharks, and when I see them they don’t move a lot, it actually doesn’t move from the bottom it has a mouth on the bottom… like i said it always swims around the bottom of the tank.
they are gray with black spots on their back and they have s cylinder body, lt has the same shape of a nurse shark only it’s about 4 inches.
has really tiny wiskers
kinda looks like this http://www.richard-seaman.com/Underwater/Belize/FishYouMightNotWantToMeet/NurseShark.jpg

http://www.scubainkorea.com/Downloads/Files_For_Download/Permanent/Nurse_Shark.JPG

but smaller and black spots on it’s back

In addition to above, a clown loach that has faded colors is a possibility, but I’m not confident enough to really say that’s what it is. I have seen CL’s stressed enough their typical brown was white/greyish in several local sellers. I’d think this is not the case and I’m thinking that you are saying shark as it has a top pointed fin? What is the overall body shape? Is it more cylindrical or more boxlike? Whiskers on it? How about the underfins? I’m figuring getting a picture for us is out of the question in this case, so alot of guessing is going to be involved.

JV

How do you clean out a aquarium tank filter hose?


6 Responses to “What kind of aquarium/tank fish is this?”

  1. Dustinius says:

    Sounds like Bala Sharks to me. If not then possibly Iridescent Sharks. Check the links below.

    Next Guess:

    Possibly a Sucker Barb or Siam Highfin Shark (Barbichthys Nitidus)?

    Additional details:

    Does your dentist have a salt water tank?
    References :
    http://www.bbayaquariums.com/select-action.cfm?ID=9

  2. Katelin O says:

    it sounds like some sort of bottom-feeder.
    References :

  3. bettachris says:

    could be a silver pitcus catfish, young ones tend to be very active, but if you saw a one that is less active, it could be an older specimen.

    it could be alot of other species, as grey and black is a common coloration.

    Another thing that comes to mind is a SAE and a flying fox.

    Again it can be a wide range of species, but if you can edit with some more details, like what kind of black, IE spots, stripes etc…
    References :

  4. Jon V says:

    In addition to above, a clown loach that has faded colors is a possibility, but I’m not confident enough to really say that’s what it is. I have seen CL’s stressed enough their typical brown was white/greyish in several local sellers. I’d think this is not the case and I’m thinking that you are saying shark as it has a top pointed fin? What is the overall body shape? Is it more cylindrical or more boxlike? Whiskers on it? How about the underfins? I’m figuring getting a picture for us is out of the question in this case, so alot of guessing is going to be involved.

    JV
    References :

  5. boncarles says:

    It could be a pictus cat fish. Warning , though, those are babies — they grow to a footlong. That doctor’s office has babies.
    References :

  6. evelynmarch26 says:

    That sounds like some kind of cory cat or a pleco

    check out the following links, hope you will find it ;)
    http://www.peteducation.com/category_summary.cfm?cls=16&cat=1923
    http://scotcat.com/home.htm

    Hope that helps
    good luck

    EB
    References :

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